Legislators' answer to fuel crisis: oranges, sunshine

Lawmakers speak on need for alternative fuel sources in state at symposium.

BY RICHARD CONNSTAR-BANNER

Published: Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 12:00 a.m.

ORLANDO - More efforts need to be made to produce alternative energy sources for Florida, from tapping farm-based fuels to even using the state's abundance of orange peels to make ethanol, two state legislators said Monday.
State Rep. Bob Allen, R-Merritt Island, and state Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, discussed several energy issues during a spring symposium that covered a host of environmental issues held at the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at the University of Central Florida.
The two men served as last-minute pinch-hitters for Florida's Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who was scheduled to be the keynote speaker but was unable to make the event.
Florida's Energy Act, passed by the Legislature last year, included a four-year $100 million plan to diversify the state's fuel supply. While that's a large funding stimulus, Allen said more money yet could be geared toward developing new fuel sources.
He noted that Pennsylvania legislators included more funding to develop alternative energy products than Florida, despite having a much smaller overall budget.
Allen said Florida needs to fully use the wealth of organic matter at its disposal.
"We have the largest biomass capability, than any other state," Allen said.
Constantine, a member of the state's Energy Commission, said more needs to be done to use farmed-based sources, such as crops, agricultural wastes and residues for fuel.
"We have right here in Florida the opportunity to use farm-to-fuel products," Constantine said.
Allen said orange peels - just like corn and sugar - could be used to produce ethanol, a biofuel. He also touted an increased dependence on solar energy.
He said all government buildings in the state should include some form of solar or "green" technology.
Both men said America can no longer depend on purchasing oil from countries that are politically unstable or considered hostile toward the United States.
"We are very dependent on a very weak infrastructure," Allen said.
Switching gears, Allen also said legislators are dead set on making sure builders are given "no exemptions or exceptions" to Florida's Building Code, so that homes are built soundly enough to withstand the state's hurricane season.
Doing so will be a tonic to help alleviate the state's insurance crisis.
"It has to be a house of bricks, or a house of wood that's strapped down real good," Allen said.Richard Conn may be reached at richard.conn@starbanner.com or (352) 867-4045.

ORLANDO - More efforts need to be made to produce alternative energy sources for Florida, from tapping farm-based fuels to even using the state's abundance of orange peels to make ethanol, two state legislators said Monday.<BR>
State Rep. Bob Allen, R-Merritt Island, and state Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, discussed several energy issues during a spring symposium that covered a host of environmental issues held at the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at the University of Central Florida.<BR>
The two men served as last-minute pinch-hitters for Florida's Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who was scheduled to be the keynote speaker but was unable to make the event.<BR>
Florida's Energy Act, passed by the Legislature last year, included a four-year $100 million plan to diversify the state's fuel supply. While that's a large funding stimulus, Allen said more money yet could be geared toward developing new fuel sources.<BR>
He noted that Pennsylvania legislators included more funding to develop alternative energy products than Florida, despite having a much smaller overall budget.<BR>
Allen said Florida needs to fully use the wealth of organic matter at its disposal.<BR>
"We have the largest biomass capability, than any other state," Allen said.<BR>
Constantine, a member of the state's Energy Commission, said more needs to be done to use farmed-based sources, such as crops, agricultural wastes and residues for fuel.<BR>
"We have right here in Florida the opportunity to use farm-to-fuel products," Constantine said.<BR>
Allen said orange peels - just like corn and sugar - could be used to produce ethanol, a biofuel. He also touted an increased dependence on solar energy.<BR>
He said all government buildings in the state should include some form of solar or "green" technology.<BR>
Both men said America can no longer depend on purchasing oil from countries that are politically unstable or considered hostile toward the United States.<BR>
"We are very dependent on a very weak infrastructure," Allen said.<BR>
Switching gears, Allen also said legislators are dead set on making sure builders are given "no exemptions or exceptions" to Florida's Building Code, so that homes are built soundly enough to withstand the state's hurricane season.<BR>
Doing so will be a tonic to help alleviate the state's insurance crisis.<BR>
"It has to be a house of bricks, or a house of wood that's strapped down real good," Allen said.<BR>
<i>Richard Conn may be reached at richard.conn@starbanner.com or (352) 867-4045.<BR></i>